The Twins have lost 18 consecutive postseason games, a record for all major North American sports. Here's how it happened

On Oct. 5, 2004, the Twins and Johan Santana beat the Yankees 2-0 in the first game of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium. The next day, the Twins started a Major League Baseball record 18-game postseason losing streak.

7-6 (12), Yankee Stadium: In Game 2 the Twins tied it in the eighth with two runs off Mariano Rivera, took a 6-5 lead in the 12th on Torii Hunter's home run and were poised to take a 2-0 series lead. But Hideki Matsui's two-run single in the bottom of the inning won it for the Yankees.

8-4, Metrodome: Derek Jeter had three hits and drove in three runs for New York, including the fifth single in a row off Carlos Silva in a three-run second inning.

6-5 (11), Metrodome: The Twins coughed up a 5-1 lead — Juan Rincon gave up four runs in the eighth inning — and lost in the 11th when Alex Rodriguez doubled, stole third and scored on a wild pitch by Kyle Lohse.

3-2, Metrodome: Barry Zito outdueled Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and Frank Thomas hit a pair of solo homers in a painful home loss.

5-2, Metrodome: Mark Kotsay's tiebreaking two-run, inside-the-park homer after Torii Hunter's ill-advised dive in the seventh inning lifted Oakland.

8-3, Oakland Coliseum: The A's scored four runs in the first three innings in Twins pitcher Brad Radke's final big-league game.

4-3 (11), New Yankee Stadium: Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Joe Nathan to tie the score, and Mark Teixeira won it with a homer in the 11th.

4-1, Metrodome: Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered in the seventh, Nick Punto was thrown out at third with no out in the eighth inning and Rivera closed the game, the series and the Twins' time at the Dome.

6-4, Target Field: With both a new home and home-field advantage, the Twins blew a 3-0 lead, and Mark Teixeira's seventh-inning homer broke a 4-4 tie.

5-2, Target Field: The Yankees broke a seventh-inning tie with two runs off Carl Pavano, and the Twins only put one runner on in the final three innings.

6-1, New Yankee Stadium: Yankees starter Phil Hughes gave up four hits in seven innings as New York completed the sweep. The Twins didn't return to the playoffs for seven years.

10-4, New Yankee Stadium: Again the Twins couldn't hold an early lead, as José Berríos labored for four innings while his relievers found the postseason at Yankee Stadium too daunting.

8-2, New Yankee Stadium: Randy Dobnak, who had made only nine appearances with in the big leagues, started Game 2 for the Twins but was pulled in the third, and Didi Gregorius soon followed with a grand slam off Tyler Duffey to start the rout.

5-1, Target Field: The 101-win Bomba Squad fizzled out, going only 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

4-1, Target Field: Houston scored three unearned runs with two outs in the top of the ninth after Jorge Polanco's throwing error and handed the Twins their 12th consecutive home playoff loss.